THIEVES are stalking the streets of Loughborough armed with wheelbarrows and wheelie-bins to strip properties of their lead.

THIEVES are stalking the streets of Loughborough armed with wheelbarrows and wheelie-bins to strip properties of their lead.

Over the last 12 months, lead thefts have reached astronomical heights from 25 offences in 2007 to a staggering 108 this year.

Thieves are scaling church roofs, schools and listed buildings to strip the property of metal materials, which can be sold to scrap dealers for hundreds of pounds.

Some of the thieves caught by police have no previous convictions but are carrying out lead attacks - making s300 a day.

Others are organised gangs posing as builders and workmen who strip properties while the public pass by unknowingly.

In the last year, police have only charged thieves for 19 offences although Sgt Paul Kear, of Loughborough police, says his officers make plenty of arrests.

He told the Echo: "Metal is untraceable - it's hard to match up with its user. Sometimes we can't prove where that metal has come from. It's not like being caught with regular gear from a house burglary - you can't put out an appeal on a bit of lead."

He says this is where some of the problems lie and that thieves caught with wheelie-bins and wheelbarrows of metal cannot always be convicted.

"We make more arrests than detections," he added. "To have success at court we need evidence and witnesses and that's why we need to work with the public to reduce this."

Anyone with any information or who is concerned by the behaviour of suspected builders in their area is asked to contact Loughborough police on 0116 222 2222 or Crimestoppers, free and anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

u For a more detailed special report, see this week's copy of the Echo.